Post by PurpleFloyd on Mar 25, 2024 21:33:22 GMT -6
1. Trade up to the top three no matter the cost
Does this seem a little reckless considering some parts of the Vikings’ roster are still under construction? Yes. But the only position that can’t be replaced by development and free agent dollars is quarterback. Getting into the top three picks would guarantee that Kevin O’Connell gets one of the elite prospects in the draft — and if the Vikings are willing to go wild with an offer that New England will accept then it means O’Connell is 100% on board with that QB.
While it would still be a good result if the Vikings found a decent QB prospect who was capable of having success on his rookie contract, the golden ticket in the NFL is getting the franchise QB who gives you a chance to compete for the Super Bowl every year. This year’s draft features three QBs who have ceilings similar to the Josh Allens and Joe Burrows of the NFL that elevate their team and cover up for weaknesses. Landing one of them would give the Vikings something they haven’t had in a next-level athlete that they haven’t seen since Daunte Culpepper.
Yes, if it goes bust then the ship may sink. What outcome in the draft doesn’t have a potential downside though? So swing big.
2. JJ McCarthy at No. 4 or 5 without giving up a 2025 first-round pick
It would make complete sense for the Cardinals and Chargers to have three first-rounders on their mind considering the quality of wide receivers expected to be available at No. 4 and 5 and the desperation of the teams below them. However, it would be a big win for the Vikings if they could somehow put together an acceptable package for either club without having to part ways with their 2025 first-round pick. In that case, in total including the trade with the Texans, they essentially would have only essentially moved the No. 11 pick, 2024 second-rounder and 2025-second rounder to land a quarterback. It’s hard to do much better than that from their position.
McCarthy may not be on the same level in terms of production or physical prowess as Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels but the Vikings can surround him with enough talent to be competitive fairly quickly and have a chance to seriously compete in the near future.
3. Byron Murphy II at 11 and Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. at 23
Top-notch defensive tackles are incredibly difficult to come by. Analytics analyst Arjun Menon pointed out on Twitter that 12 of the 14 highest paid defensive tackles are first-round picks. The Vikings have been filling space in the middle of the D-line for years with players like Shamar Stephen, Armon Watts, Khyiris Tonga, Jonathan Bullard and Harrison Phillips and they most recently signed two situational players in Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams.
Murphy II was a force at Texas. He produced a 91.1 PFF pass rushing grade and registered 45 pressures in 273 pass rush snaps. There is nothing quite as disruptive as a pass rushing DT and nobody knows this better than the Vikings playing against the likes of Kenny Clark and Akiem Hicks in recent years.
Getting a disrupter of that caliber along with a QB in the first round is ideal if O’Connell is all in on that player. Nix seems to be a darling of former quarterbacks because he gets rid of the ball on time and Penix Jr. has a monster arm. The issue with this particular plan is the possibility of somebody else picking them. The Broncos at No. 12 and Raiders at No. 13 both may want quarterbacks, which could make for a very nervous run of picks between 11 and 23.
If this was the result, it wouldn’t quite on the same level of upside as Maye or McCarthy because Nix doesn’t have arm talent that matches up and Penix Jr. isn’t considered a playmaker out of structure but both have considerable tools that O’Connell and his band of weapons could maximize. Then it would be a matter of spending cap space to build a 49ers-esque roster around them.
4. Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. at 11 and Johnny Newton or Kool-Aid McKinstry at 23
5. JJ McCarthy at No. 4 in exchange for No. 11, 23 and 2025 first-round pick
More here:
Does this seem a little reckless considering some parts of the Vikings’ roster are still under construction? Yes. But the only position that can’t be replaced by development and free agent dollars is quarterback. Getting into the top three picks would guarantee that Kevin O’Connell gets one of the elite prospects in the draft — and if the Vikings are willing to go wild with an offer that New England will accept then it means O’Connell is 100% on board with that QB.
While it would still be a good result if the Vikings found a decent QB prospect who was capable of having success on his rookie contract, the golden ticket in the NFL is getting the franchise QB who gives you a chance to compete for the Super Bowl every year. This year’s draft features three QBs who have ceilings similar to the Josh Allens and Joe Burrows of the NFL that elevate their team and cover up for weaknesses. Landing one of them would give the Vikings something they haven’t had in a next-level athlete that they haven’t seen since Daunte Culpepper.
Yes, if it goes bust then the ship may sink. What outcome in the draft doesn’t have a potential downside though? So swing big.
2. JJ McCarthy at No. 4 or 5 without giving up a 2025 first-round pick
It would make complete sense for the Cardinals and Chargers to have three first-rounders on their mind considering the quality of wide receivers expected to be available at No. 4 and 5 and the desperation of the teams below them. However, it would be a big win for the Vikings if they could somehow put together an acceptable package for either club without having to part ways with their 2025 first-round pick. In that case, in total including the trade with the Texans, they essentially would have only essentially moved the No. 11 pick, 2024 second-rounder and 2025-second rounder to land a quarterback. It’s hard to do much better than that from their position.
McCarthy may not be on the same level in terms of production or physical prowess as Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels but the Vikings can surround him with enough talent to be competitive fairly quickly and have a chance to seriously compete in the near future.
3. Byron Murphy II at 11 and Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. at 23
Top-notch defensive tackles are incredibly difficult to come by. Analytics analyst Arjun Menon pointed out on Twitter that 12 of the 14 highest paid defensive tackles are first-round picks. The Vikings have been filling space in the middle of the D-line for years with players like Shamar Stephen, Armon Watts, Khyiris Tonga, Jonathan Bullard and Harrison Phillips and they most recently signed two situational players in Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams.
Murphy II was a force at Texas. He produced a 91.1 PFF pass rushing grade and registered 45 pressures in 273 pass rush snaps. There is nothing quite as disruptive as a pass rushing DT and nobody knows this better than the Vikings playing against the likes of Kenny Clark and Akiem Hicks in recent years.
Getting a disrupter of that caliber along with a QB in the first round is ideal if O’Connell is all in on that player. Nix seems to be a darling of former quarterbacks because he gets rid of the ball on time and Penix Jr. has a monster arm. The issue with this particular plan is the possibility of somebody else picking them. The Broncos at No. 12 and Raiders at No. 13 both may want quarterbacks, which could make for a very nervous run of picks between 11 and 23.
If this was the result, it wouldn’t quite on the same level of upside as Maye or McCarthy because Nix doesn’t have arm talent that matches up and Penix Jr. isn’t considered a playmaker out of structure but both have considerable tools that O’Connell and his band of weapons could maximize. Then it would be a matter of spending cap space to build a 49ers-esque roster around them.
4. Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. at 11 and Johnny Newton or Kool-Aid McKinstry at 23
5. JJ McCarthy at No. 4 in exchange for No. 11, 23 and 2025 first-round pick
More here:
The best outcome is to take JJ and the 11 and trade to Washington for the 2. They get a top WR and can grab a QB at 11. The Vikings take either JJ or Maye at 2 and then grab a WR at 23 in a loaded class and still keep their 1 next year.
No big contract for JJ to weigh the team down and give tons of space to build the roster.
... and neither is this Chris guy.